papajoe222

After I applied my FlexCoat to my recent rod building project, I noticed that to colored thread had bled onto the pearl thread. I used metalic thread for the entire wrap and was under the impression that it wasn't necessary to use a color preserver. Was I wrong in my assumption? I'm planning on doing some work for a friend and would hate to ruin his rod.

Nice. As long as it's functional, you'll likely be the only one to notice the slight imperfections. Learn from your mistakes and you'll be producing quality builds in no time. BTW, I don't know which finish you're using, but with most epoxys adding a little heat after application will remove any bubbles and will also insure thread saturation.

Sometimes it's a matter of an extra foot or two that you need and going to a deeper diver will get you more than that. That's no big deal if you're attempting to bump the bottom, but if you're looking to just tick the top of the weeds that top out a foot or two below where your crank is getting down to, that switch will get you deep into the weeds. You could go to a deeper diver with heavier line to make it run a little shalower, but going to a thinner line with the same lure lets you duplicate the action of the shallower runner a little deeper.

Most of the lakes I fish are natural lakes up here and this is the one time of the year where I believe there is a big difference between natural and man made lakes, not only in staging areas during the pre-spawn, but in productive lures during that period. Bass in the lakes I fish rarely suspend during pre-spawn as deep water is normally just a couple of flicks of their tail away and deep water on those lakes is 20ft. and under which is the reason I don't often use jerkbaits then. The most productive early spring bait has been a blade bait (Sonic, *** Blade, etc.) allowed to fall to the bottom and hopped up 1-2ft. and allowed to fall back. As the water warms into the upper 40's I slow roll it with occasional pumps of the rod will get the nod as the fish are already making short trips up the points and key structure leading toward the shallows. This is also the time I break out my flat sided and lipless cranks. Once the water warms into the low 50's it seems that any presentation can and does produce fish and I base my selection more on the fish's location, but a spinnerbait as a search tool is invaluable to me at that time as the fish tend to move around alot and it's the easiest bait for me to change depth and speed productively.

I wouldn't say I'm a die-hard jig fisherman, but it's definately one of the baits I rely heavily on. Over the years I've found that tinkering with the weedguard has helped me. I use two different styles of jigs with the Arkie getting the nod for the majority of the work. I'll adjust or trim the guard depending on the type or lack of cover. For laydowns or stumps, I'll trim the guard on an angle, shorter near the head and longer nearest the hook. I'll do the same for most weeds, but flare the strands out so they both flex easier and deflect the weeds to the side of that wide jighead. For pea gravel, shell beds and most open water presentations, I'll bend the strands down just past the hook's barb with all but a few strands on a jig that I haven't trimmed. Lastly, for a swimming presentation, I'll remove strands or, should I say trim the number of strands (I do this to the skirt also for this). Anyone else tinker with the stock weedguards on their favorite jigs, or do you all just fish 'em straight out of the pkg.?

It's that time of year again when I go through my collection of unused and new gear to donate to my favorite fishing related charity: http://www.fishingoutreachprogram.com/Home.html Last year, I posted a similar thread around this time and the guys and gals here picked up the ball and helped out immensly. On behalf of Joe and the outreach program, THANK YOU This year I plan on going one step further and contacting my local VFW. I plan to post an invitation to their membership to take any of those brave men and women fishing as my way of saying thank you. I know that many of you would like to do the same, but are unable because of time restraints. For those of you that can, could you make an effort to take a vet fishing? It's a great way to say thank you, or just hook up with a possible new friend.

I just don't get the back pack thing. Don't get me wrong, a back pack has it's place but there are much better tackle storage and transportation options IMO. The only advantage I see to a pack vs. a bag is if you're walking a long distance with a lot of other gear. If you're shore fishing, carrying everything you own is a waste of energy. If you'll be fishing from a boat, eliminating an extra trip back to the car to load up doesn't sound logical to me. Sorry, just an old fart ranting. If you're looking for a versatile pack, check out Sportsmans Guide they have a great pack on sale that has both large compartments and small along with pockets for sunglasses, tools, and water bottles. If I recall correctly and I'm usually 40-50% correct on my recollections, it's currently on sale for $39.00 for non members. I've had mine for three years and it's seen plenty of use. I was wrong about the price. Here's the link http://www.sportsmansguide.com/net/cb/military-style-medium-transport-pack.aspx?a=961612

Welcome. It's great to see new members from my neck of the woods. There are a couple of small lakes in LaPort county I've fished along with Webster for muskie.

This is a great time for tubes, but a slow fall rate will likely work better than a heavier one that will fall straighter and faster. The lighter weight (1/8oz or less) will pick up those suspended fish that won't chase a faster falling bait. If you don't have any light tube jigs, a small split shot 8-12in. above a tube will give you the slow fall, but anything but an internal weight will limit the spiral fall that is a big reason tubes produce over other soft plastics.

I've lost track of the quality bass I've caught on that and other pike and muskie baits. They and other inline spinners, smaller Jakes and even some double inline buzzers have all produced bass for me. I haven't tried them when specifically targeting bass, but I don't see why they wouldn't produce.

If the normal, triggering affect of a falling tube isn't what the fish are responding to, I'll opt for a skirted jig (no rattles). The only time I T-rig a tube is when I'm flipping and the only time I flip a tube is in pads or cabbage.

X2, Or when you purchase a lure you've never tried out in six different colors and sizes.

Smallies will hold around current breaks in faster moving water, but rarely in colder water. I'd target areas of very little to no current that are close to faster water, not fast moving, just faster than the slack water areas. An extended 'seam' or the slack area ahead or behind a major obsticle or eddy. Deep water access is a plus factor, so that area downstream of the dam where the water goes slack is ideal early and later in the year.

Could be that's when you are most confident. Unlike LM, I believe a smallie's strike zone expands rather than shrinks on a sunny day. I've had them come up 20-30ft. on a sunny day to hit a Spook. Rarely on an overcast day.

For rivers and streams, I like a Mepps spinner with a yellow or chart. blade. For lakes, I prefer a SuperSpook Jr. , but I've caught more on a tube (green pumpkin with the ends dipped in Spike-It)

I personally don't care for the weed guard on them. I've missed more than a few fish because it didn't collapse enough for the hook's point to catch. I ended cutting the looped end off and shortening the remaining wires. The hooks themselves are excellent, but if I'm looking for a weedless hook, I go with my old standby EagleClaw 249WA

If you're like me, most of my fishing knowledge was self taught. Magazines, TV shows, etc. There were, however, a few people in my life that actually took the time to show me a few of the things that have made a big difference in my angling experienes. My dad, of course, ignited the passion in me. He was a live bait fisherman and a jig and minnow was my introduction to casting not just bobber watching. A patient old man showed me how to play a fish on spinning gear after he witnessed me loose two nice walley in a row. A good friend taught me that it's almost as much fun teaching and seeing your 'student' catch fish as it is catching them yourself. Last, but certainly not least a friend that is no longer with us taught me that I'm never alone when fishing by myself and that's the best time I've found to talk to Him.

Well, I've about run out of fishing related things to do. I'm just adding the finishing touches to my last rod build of the off season. Everything other than the boat is ready to go, but it's sitting in the drive with 6in. of snow on it's winter cover. Now it's planning time. I figure three trips this spring and another two in the fall. Lodging, transportation choices, and destinations should take a little time. Somewhere before the power plant lakes open in March, I have a few little honey do's to both occupy my time and keep me from having a fishing widow (she would kill me).

Made the decision to attend this past week-end and have already received an invite to share a cabin. Now if I can find someone from IL or WI to share the ride down, that'll take some of the financial burden off my back and I can just enjoy the anticipation of meeting up with what I believe is a great bunch of guys and gals. :respect-059:

Okay, I pulled the trigger an will be attending, but I need help. I'd like to drive down and back, but I'd also like to share expenses. Does anyone need a fourth for a cabin rental, or a second to share a room? Anyone in IL or WI willing to share the ride and expense going down (I'll supply transportation)? More than one would keep transportation expense even lower for all.

I lost a friend a couple of years ago that, upon hooking into a big fish, would stomp his feet on the floor of the boat like a little kid. Always brought a smile to my face. Man I miss him.

I use a file also. I do have a diamond sharpener that I'll use to touch them up, but if they're totaly sliding off my thumbnail, the file gets the nod.

I'm finishing up getting my gear ready and prepping my used rods is the last on the list. Soapy watr and a Q-Tip is what I normally use. Just wondering what you guys use for cleaning.

I go out 3-5 times a week and although I'm tempted, I never leave my gear in my boat. The exception is my plastics. I do, however, keep it in my truck where it's placed when leaving the lake. Both my boat and truck are kept in my driveway, but in the truck the gear is out of sight to prying eyes.

I have no problems using braid for most applications, but there are times when I will either use a FC leader or straight FC. Clear/ pressured water makes up 80% of those and if possible, I'll go with all flouro in those situations. It isn't that I don't have confidence in using any kind of leader, It's that adding another knot to my connection with a lure increases the possibility of knot failure. The other thing, and it may be a personal preference, is I don't like loosing baits and attaching a lighter line as a leader increases that possibility. BTW, moving this topic to rod, reels and line forum would likely get you more responses.